Need Hockey Fans feel slighted?

Well,  wouldn't you ?
 When today's WSJ devotes 7, count'em, seven pages to Soccer, but NOT even one small paragraph to the epic battle for the Stanley Cup that is currently playing between EAST and WEST (USA) as the NY Rangers face off to LA Kings.

Hockey, the fastest sport on feet - ahem, skates.

Sure car-racing or horse-racing maybe faster, but IMO the swift and yet elegant way those skaters race after that little black puck is gripping! And colorful. And exciting!

And speaking of hockey, you may know that Houston is one of the few large cities without a hockey team, since the Houston Aeros were moved to DesMoines, Iowa and re-named Iowa Wild. I remember some games here, when the edge of the seat was were we all hung out if not on our feet clapping and yelling! And after the move, Better Half and I drove to San Antonio several times to get our hockey fix...even though the Rampage are not that good.
BUT... One of BH 's faves Jed Ortmeyer

went to play for the Rampage - and so .. there we were!
Meanwhile at home now, we watch the Stanley Cup Play off Games.. and how!!!

Me, I am rooting for the Kings.
But before that, I did for the Habs, especially after their goalie was badly injured and the youngster D. Tokarski, came in 'cold' so to speak, and acquitted himself very well, IMO.  And an Austrian skater was there as well.. ThomasVanek, whom we remembered from 2013 European play offs.

But, the best team won that round and so, here I am now rooting for the Kings.

But am pleased, too, that a former Aeros, Benoit Pouliot, skates for the Rangers, and skates well and fast! And how about Martin St. Louis? We saw him in Tampa, so are happy he is doing this well with the Rangers.
Anyway, more exciting play off Hockey to come
I have a feeling that this will be an epic battle.
Both teams are truly good.
And fast.
And have alert goalies.
Their offense is good, their defense is as well.
Lady Luck will have her work cut out!

The all important question is this AM..



Gillies, Peters, O'Sullivan in action around Hackett R2G3

will/can Aeros keep the momentum displayed last evening going?

http://youtu.be/XRYpzkzBi_c

A win would be great when going to Milwaukee for the last one or two games. 

But: Will the Ads adjust to the 'newish' Aeros play?

But: Will the ice conditions make that much a difference?
Ah, well all these questions will be covered exhaustively tonight and the after the game by various  parochial bloggers, the "official blog of the Aeros", the semiofficial bloggers at T3I, and the actual print media guy.

So I shall meander over to the IIHF and report on results there from yesterdays games for those of you, cher readers, who can't or won't spend time on the net:

But I feel it is interesting to say the least, since several of those skating there now are in, or will be with the NHL and AHL teams next year.


Jason Zucker (IIHF Juniors) signed by Wild

That second half of the trade for Anton Khudobin (BTW since with the Bruins he played 4 games and recorded a  .942 % svs), Mikko Lehtonen,
for instance, has been reported to have signed with KHL for next season, so the Wild managed to get ONLY Penner for Anton for sure. Of course, it is possible the Wild may buy out that contract.. but....


So my poor country Austria again the loser with 2 versus Belarus with 7
(and Belarus was not exactly a forerunner up to now) SIGH!
Slovakia vs. Latvia 5-2, Russia vs Denmark 4-3 and  Norway vs Switzerland 3-2.
Hmm, that begs the question: are Austria and Switzerland - being so 'hilly' and better known for other winter sports (skiing), - less prone to manage flat surfaces (just kidding).
Also you may notice that Italy, also a 'hilly' (in the North) nation did not field a team competing.

And France (also hilly) was not exactly a "burning up the ice" team as well. Again am kidding! Although Austria has supplied a few, a very few, good to excellent hockey players to the NHL

(Vanek, An
dreas Nodl 

 
Michael Grabner..etc.).
Not sure why Slovakia,  Czech Republic and Slovenia (all hilly countries to some extent, as well) do so much better in hockey? Goalies (Vokoun, etal), giants-not in basketball (Chara) - and many other skaters.
Is it because these neighbour states of the former USSR followed the example of state athlete training -get them young and they'll do better (vide China's 'baby' athletes!!).
But then where IS Hungary?
Any way just some nagging questions while sorta following the IIHF over there!

I lied...

I said I wouldn't... but here I am.

Just can't leave it be-so grin and bear it!

AEROS won a second game!
1.  in pre-season vs. Stars and  1. in regular Season vs OKC Barons.
I did not see it - only heard the voice of the Aeros with explanatory comments by Brandon Rogers!
But t'was exciting nevertheless.

It sounded like "Wundergoalie" Hackett (30 saves) was indeed wunderbar!  Nr 2*

"Avalanche" Kalus with 2 goals, 1 assist and Nr. 1 * surprised, probably even himself  :).

Broda

Newbie Joel ("Joyeux") Broda also had 2 goals  Nr. 3*

Di Salvatore ("Speedy Jon") had a goal (PP goal at that-might that become his speciality) and 1 assist,

"The Scrapper" Daoust had 3 assists, and "Frisky" Gillies also scored.
Well, per Russo, it is now 100% that "Dimples" Khudobin,
Kassian, the "Kassassinator", Bagnall ("Bagman")
and now also Casey Wellman - below he scores his first NHL goal



are being sent South to lovely Houston where Flip Flops reign and the sun shines on the TC!  And  pools beckon to hardy hockey players from up North, after all 55 - 65 degree water temperature is just a balmy one for them :-)!
On the other hand, we hear that Zingoni ("Zippy") was an injured scratch at OKC- (deja vu?); as was Tyler Cuma, but we knew that already!
Rogers ("The Rock") was a healthy scratch and ablye to assist Joe O'Donnell.

And as Better Half and I have and will follow Mathieu Beaudoin (26) and Matt Climie, I am happy to report that Nr. 26 Rampage was Nr. 1 * (2 goals and 2 assists) in his first game with the Rampage vs. Chicago Wolves. Sure looks like Texas IS good for Mathieu B..whether skating as Nr. 25 (Aeros) or
Nr. 26 (Stars and now Rampage).
Barry Brust and Corey Locke (2 goals in 2. game-, 1 assist in 1.game-) are with Binghampton Senators and doing reasonably well or so I hear from Ms.C. Mitch Love skates for the Shreveport-Bossier City NJMudbugs and, I'm sure, will enchant those fans with his histrionics when fighting to heat up team and fans alike!
While Krys Kolanos was released by The NJ Devils even though in pre-season he score the one goal! Go figure! And here we were ready to watch him as a Devil vs The Lightening on our planned trip to Florida..well, we will still attend, Kolanos or not.. hockey is hockey!
Grabner was traded by the Panthers, but Vanek, the other "Austrian" player I follow, is still with the Sabres!